Russell Martin told to walk the talk as Rangers boss joins flops in Hotline firing line

Daily Record

5 days ago

Ryan McDonald takes your calls as Gers fans react to another poor start to the Premiership campaign
It was an unwanted hat-trick for Rangers as Russell Martin let rip at his stars after another opening-day calamity.
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Gers kicked off their title charge by dropping points for the third year running - and Martin didn't hold back as he pointed the finger at his players.
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The new gaffer's machine-gun post-match interview caught some fans by surprise. But Alan Flett reckons some long-overdue home truths were finally aired: "Great post-match interview from Russell Martin, he told it exactly how it is.
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"Year after year, we are gifting league titles to an inferior Celtic team, because we have too many players in our squad who are not interested in playing against the likes of Motherwell.
"They're right up for the midweek European games, but when the SPFL matches come round, they switch off. This has been going on for far too long and in Russell Martin, I hope we now have a manager who can sort it out."
Willie Mercer, Dumfries, emailed: "I have no issue with Russell Martin calling it as it was after Saturday's game.
"However, he did not practice what he was preaching about players not putting the effort in and not doing the hard running required and expected of a Rangers player.
"When he left Kieran Dowell on the park for the whole match, given the fact he was the biggest culprit of not meeting these standards and was to blame in part for Motherwell's goal.
"My advice to Martin is practice what you preach in interviews or guys like Dowell will cost your job."
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Rick Hart didn't sugarcoat it either: "Motherwell deserved to win on Saturday, they had passion and belief, Rangers had none of it.
"In fact, they were rubbish. A couple of decent attacks but they gave the ball away too easily midfield. If this is the new Rangers team, we are in for a long, dismal campaign.
"Quick note to Barry Ferguson… when they come and ask you to be the interim manager again, tell them to shove it."
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Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, fears history is already repeating itself: "Russell Martin is completely out of his depth. How many managers have we had who talk the talk and it ended there? Mirror image, Martin?
"The Panathinaikos games were nothing more than luck and if you can't beat Motherwell, then there is no hope of winning the league or cups. You are going to come against better teams in the SPFL.
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"Martin is playing players out of their natural positions in midfield and one centre forward to try to beat low blocks proves he lacks management skills.
"Play two centre forwards to feed off of each other with the attacking and defending midfielders playing in their natural positions or it's goodbye Martin at Christmas."
Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, was just as scathing: "Once again, the start of the league campaign and Rangers drop points. Martin promised his own fast-flowing attacking play from the back.
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"With a set-up playing players out of position and players who have agreed deals elsewhere, I can understand players like Yilmaz being really annoyed and wanting away.
"With this style of sloppy defensive passes, the only fast-flowing play will be a Rangers keeper picking the ball out of the net.
"Martin is under serious pressure already. The performances against Panathinaikos were very similar and Rangers got lucky.
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"The Connor Coady situation is a total embarrassment to Rangers and more so the 49ers and the board.
"Rangers don't try to kill off games when in the lead and are a total embarrassment under Martin."
Steve Macleod, Wokingham, emailed in with a dig and an offer: "Some early free advice for newbie Russell Martin. You'll win nothing with players like Danilo and Dowell and while your tactics will occasionally look pretty, they won't win every week.
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"If we're to be serious contenders for this year's title, you need a major early rethink. I'm here if you need me."
Don't be waiting by the phone…
Across the city, Sean McGarvey, Cumbernauld, is already predicting another stroll for the champions: "Howling at the state of 'Martin-ball'. It appears to be no coherent tactics, non-existent full-backs, and a defence that gets ripped every time the other team strings a one-two together.
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"Happy days for Celtic fans. We will have a field day against this! Motherwell had them on the ropes. This season should be good!"
But it's not all rosy in the Parkhead garden either, as Jim Docherty warned: "It has been apparent for a number of years that the Celtic board will not sanction paying exaggerated fees for players, but still want top dollar for their own players.
"This is because of the financial constraints of playing in Scotland where you will NEVER compete with other nations and they're happy being top dogs in a poor league."
And finally, Charles Maxwell took aim at the fixture schedulers: "Friday night football. Half 5 on a Saturday and half 4 on a Sunday! It's good to see the SFA and SPFL keeping tradition alive. I'm back shift next week. Any chance of a game the back of ten?"
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